Curved roll rack

ABSTRACT

A curved roll-rack for a continuous-casting apparatus. The rack is formed of a plurality of standardized frame sections and base members which serve both as supports for the sections and as housings for driven roll stands. The frame sections support clusters of bottom and top idler rolls. The support means for the idler rolls enable these rolls to be removed and replaced readily. When the idler rolls are replaced after removal, they are automatically properly positioned.

I UnIted States Patent I 11 1 [111 3,

Hall et al. Nov. 18, 1975 CURVED ROLL RACK 3,757,848 9/1973 SChOlZ 164/282 I751 John Pine Township, Porter 333318? 51333 El;.ti..;:: 1311;: 122/525 County Ind; Gmrge Wagner, 3,831,661 8/1974 Anderton 164/282 North Fayette Townsh1p, Allegheny county, p FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS [73] Assignee: United States Steel Corporation, igjgg;

Pittsburgh Pa.

[22] Filed: Aug. 27, 1973 Primary E.\'aminerFrancis S. Husar Assistant ExaminerJohn S. Brown [2]] Appl' 392170 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Walter P. Wood [52] US. Cl. 164/282 [57] ABSTRACT [51] Int. Cl. B22D 11/12 A curved roll-rack for a contInuous-castmg apparatus. Fleld of Search The rack is formed of a plurality of Standardized R f Ct d frame sections and base members which serve both as e erences le supports for the sections and as housings for driven UNITED STATES PATENTS roll stands. The frame sections support clusters of bot- 3 495,65l 2/1970 Rokop 164/282 tom and top idler rolls. The support means for the 3.496.990 2/ I970 Meier I 164/282 idler rolls enable these rolls to be removed and re- 3596306 8/ 1971 Knorrw l64/282 placed readily. When the idler rolls are replaced after 3.627 026 l2/l97l Bohne 164/282 removal, they are automatically propmly positioned 3.7l().847 l/l973 Schoffmann 164/282 3.735.804 5/1973 Wagner 164/282 5 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures US. Patent Nov. 18, 1975 Sheet 1 of3 3,920,065

nail 3 z: I HLIIIH kph-m"- dull PrLa \R U.S. Patent Nov. 18, 1975 Sheet 2 01-3 3,920,065

US. Patent Nov. 18, 1975 Sheet 3 of3 3,920,065

forready removal and CURVED ROLL RACEK This invention relates to acontinuous-casting apparatus which embodies an improved curved roll-rack, and to the curved roll-rack itself as a subcombination.

'In-a conventional continuous-casting operation, a

workpiece of indefinite lenght' (i.e. a continuously formed casting) travels through a curved roll-rack, which guides the workpiece as its direction of travel changes from substantially vertical to-horizontal. The

- workpiece enters the curved roll-rack from a bendingroll unit above, or directly from a mold if a curved mold is used, and goes into a straightener as it leaves. A

5 as it travels through the curved roll-rack. The driven ,rolls serve to apply auxiliary tractive forces which assist in propelling the workpiece through the apparatus.

The rolls of a curved roll-rack define a path which has a radius 'of about 30'feet. Consequently :a curved roll-rack is a massive mechanism, yet it must be constructed with a high degree of precision in order not to damage the workpiece, which is delicate at this stage with its liquid core.The rolls are subjected to extreme conditions fromboth the heat of the workpiece and the intense water sprays applied to theworkpiece to cool it and promote solidification. Hencethere is frequent need to remove and replace rolls. When rolls are installed, either originally or as replacements, it is of course necessary to position them accurately.

An object'of our invention is to provide an improved curved roll-rack in which the idler rolls are supported automatic positioning when replaced.

2 FIG. 7 is a fragmentary elevational view in the same plane as FIG. 5, but showing a modification.

;As shown in FIG. 1, our curved roll-rack includes a frame constructed of arcuate lower, middle and upper idler-roll support sections l0, l2 and 13 assembled in aligned end-to-end relation, a first fabricated base I member 14 located between the lower and middle secon column 17. The supporting structure also includes similar columns and beamsat the opposite side of the roll-rack on which we mount similar fabricated base membersof opposite hand. A straightener: 21 and a bending-roll unit 22 of any standard or desired construction are supported at the exit and entry ends respectively of the curved roll-rack.

The three frame sections l0, l2 and 13 preferably are all alike. Each includes an opposed pair of side plates 23 and 23a and a plurality of transverse members 24 bolted to the side plates to form a rigid structure. As best shown in FIG. 2, the inside faces of the side plates 23 and23a have raised pads 25 where each transverse member 24 is joined. Each side plate has a concave edge along which we weld a series of machine pads 26. Each pad 26 has a respective near-radial hole 27. As

- best shownin FIGS. 4 and 5, we attach roll supports 28 A- further object is to provide'an improved curved I roll-rack in which the frame includes a plurality of idler-roll supporting sections and-base members serving both as supports forthe sections andas'housings for driven-roll stands.

A further object is to provide a curved roll-rack in and as housings for a of inverted T-shape to pads 26 with bolts 29 which pass through holes 27 and carry nuts 30. Each support 28 spans two pads 26. The supports carry clusters of bottom and top idler rolls 31 and 32, hereinafter more fully .described. We insert shims 33 between the pads 26 and the supports 28 to, adjust the position of the rolls 31 and 32 precisely. The first and second base members 14 and 15 serve not only to support the ends of the frame sections 10, 12 and 13, but also as roll housings for bottom and top driven rolls 34 and 35.

Each side plate 23 and 23a.has a respective accurately located hole 36 near its exit end where the frame section isto be pivoted to a support. The sideplate of the lower frame section 10 are pivoted at the exit end of thesection to the straightener 21 with pins which pass through holes 36. These same side plates are bolted at the entry end of the seetion sto thefirst base member 14. In like mannerthe side platesof the middle frame section 10 are pivoted to the first-base member 1 14 and bolted'to the second base member 15, while the side plates of the upper frame section 13 are pivoted to 'the second base rnember l5 and bolted :to the third base member' l6. In'each instance the bolted connection allows for thermal expansion of the parts. A commonly owned copending application of Anderton, Dudthe inside face of one of the side plates embodied in each frame section of the rack shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary top plan view on line IIIIII of FIG..2 Y

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view on a larger scale than FIG. 1 showing the mounting means for the idler roll clusters on the frame section;

FIG. 5 is a section on line V-V of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of a roll cluster, partly in section, on VIVI of FIG. 5; and

zic and Whren Ser. No. 265,379, filed June 22, I972, and now abandoned, describes and claims a procedure which we can use to assemble the frame sections and base members and assure that theparts are aligned a continuation of application Ser. No. 265,379 namely application Ser. No. 426,293 issued as U.S. Pat. No. 3,841,389 Oct. 15, 1974.

IDLER ROLL MOUNTINGS As best shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, each inverted T- shaped support has a flat cross bar 40, and an upright rail 41 of T shapc in cross section which extends radially from the concave edge of the frame section 10, 12 or 13 toward its center of curvature. The aforementioned bolts 29 pass through the cross bar 40. Each bottom idlcr roll 31 is journaled in a respective opposed pair of bearings 42. The four bearings for the cluster of two bottom idlers are mounted in an opposed pair of chocks 43. A bottom spacer bar 44 is bolted to the underside of the two chocks 43 and extends therebetween. The end portions of the bottom spacer bar 44 rest on the cross bars 40 of the inverted T-shaped supports 28 at opposite sides of the frame section 10, 12 or 13. Each top idler roll 32 is journaled in a respective opposed pair of bearings 45. The four bearings for a cluster of two top idler rolls are mounted in an opposed pair of chocks 46. A top spacer bar 47 is bolted to the upper face of the two chocks 46 and extends therebetween.

The bottom chocks 43 carry uprights 50 on which rest the corresponding top chocks 46. The outer faces of chocks 43 and 46 have grooves 51 which slidably receive the rails 41 of the inverted T-shaped supports 28. The upper ends of these rails carry upstanding pins 52 which project through holes 53 in the top spacer bar 47. Pins 52 have diametric holes 54 through which we insert wedges 55 to hold the roll clusters on the frame sections. Thus the rails 41 sustain the tensile forces as a workpiece travels between rolls 31 and 32 and tends to separate the rolls.

MODIFICATION FIG. 7 shows a modified means for attaching the top spacer bar 47 to the rails 41. An outwardly projecting bolt 58 is fixed to the upper end of the rail and projects through hole 53 in the top spacer bar. The bolt carries a washer 59. a series of Belleville' springs 60, a second washer 61, and a nut 62. The form of attaching means shown in FIGS. 1 to 6 is rigid, while the springs 60 of the modified form permit the top rolls 32 to yield slightly. The leading and trailing end portions of a workpiece often are cooler than the rest and may be distorted. If the top roll can yield, the end portions can pass with less risk of damaging the mechanism.

When we need to remove any of the rolls 31 and 32, we first remove the wedges 55 or nuts 62 at each side of the frame section. We then lift out first the cluster of two top rolls 32 and next the cluster of two bottom rolls .31 using a suitable extractor. The rails 41 carry laterally projecting knobs 65 which enable the extractor to obtain a purchase on the frame section (FIGS. and 6). The top spacer bar 47 has a window 66 which the extractor head can enter to engage the rolls 32. When we replace the rolls, we drop the bottom and top clusters back into the frame, and they position themselves automatically, since we do not disturb the inverted T- shaped supports 28. The bottom roll clusters themselves are all alike and fully interchangeable with one another, as are the top roll clusters. The aforementioned Anderton et al application further describes and claims a procedure which we can use for initially positioning the idler rolls. The idler rolls are outside the plates 23 where they are readily accessible for checking their alignment at any time.

From the foregoing description it is seen that our invention affords a curved roll rack which is of simple construction, but greatly facilitates assembly, and enables idler rolls to be removed and thereafter replaced always properly positioned. The positioning is automatic, since the idler rolls are of standardized construction, and their support means are not disturbed when they are removed. The idler rolls are supported on standardized frame sections. The latter are supported in part on base members which serve also as housings for driven roll stands.

We claim:

1. In a curved roll-rack which includes arcuate frame sections each having a concave edge, means supporting said frame sections, bottom and top idler rolls, and means on said frame sections supporting said rolls, whereby the rolls define a curved path through which a workpiece may travel,

the improvement in which the supporting means for said rolls include:

pads fixed to said frame sections along the concave edges thereof;

opposed support members of inverted T-shape having cross bars fixed to said pads and uprights which form rails and extend radially from said concave edges toward the center of curvature of the frame sections;

bearings in which said rolls are journaled;

bottom and top chocks in which said bearings are mounted;

said chocks being slidably supported on said rails outside the concave edges of said frame sections; and means holding said chocks on said rails;

said chocks being removable from said rails without disturbing said members;

whereby the rolls automatically drop into their proper positions when replaced after removal.

2. An improvement as defined in claim 1 in which said rolls are arranged in clusters of two bottom rolls and their bearings, and two top rolls and their bearings, the bearings of a cluster of bottom rolls are mounted in an opposed pair of bottom chocks, and the bearings of a cluster of top rolls are mounted in an opposed pair of top chocks.

3. An improvement as defined in claim 2 further comprising bottom and top spacer bars attached to said bottom and top chocks respectively and extending therebetween.

4. An improvement as defined in claim 3 further comprising knobs fixed to the exterior of said members, said top spacer bars having windows through which said top rolls are accessible for extraction.

5. An improvement as defined in claim 1 in which said rolls are arranged in clusters of two bottom rolls and their bearings, and two top rolls and their bearings, the bearings of a cluster of bottom rolls are mounted in an opposed pair of bottom chocks, and the bearings of a cluster of top rolls are mounted in an opposed pair of top chocks, and further comprising a bottom spacer bar attached to the undersides of said bottom chocks and extending therebetween. a top spacer bar attached to the upper faces of said top chocks and extending therebetween, and uprights on said bottom chocks on which said top chocks rest, said bottom and top chocks having grooves receiving said rails. 

1. In a curved roll-rack which includes arcuate frame sections each having a concave edge, means supporting said frame sections, bottom and top idler rolls, and means on said frame sections supporting said rolls, whereby the rolls define a curved path through which a workpiece may travel, the improvement in which the supporting means for said rolls include: pads fixed to said frame sections along the concave edges thereof; opposed support members of inverted T-shape having cross bars fixed to said pads and uprights which form rails and extend radially from said concave edges toward the center of curvature of the frame sections; bearings in which said rolls are journaled; bottom and top chocks in which said bearings are mounted; said chocks being slidably supported on said rails outside the concave edges of said frame sections; and means holding said chocks on said rails; said chocks being removable from said rails without disturbing said members; whereby the rolls automatically drop into their proper positions when replaced after removal.
 2. An improvement as defined in claim 1 in which said rolls are arranged in clusters of two bottom rolls and their bearings, and two top rolls and their bearings, the bearings of a cluster of bottom rolls are mounted in an opposed pair of bottom chocks, and the bearings of a cluster of top rolls are mounted in an opposed pair of top chocks.
 3. An improvement as defined in claim 2 further comprising bottom and top spacer bars attached to said bottom and top chocks respectively and extending therebetween.
 4. An improvement as defined in claim 3 further comprising knobs fixed to the exterior of said members, said top spacer bars having windows through which said top rolls are accessible for extraction.
 5. An improvement as defined in claim 1 in which said rolls are arranged in clusters of two bottom rolls and their bearings, and two top rolls and their bearings, the bearings of a cluster of bottom rolls are mounted in an opposed pair of bottom chocks, and the bearings of a cluster of top rolls are mounted in an opposed pair of top chocks, and further comprising a bottom spacer bar attached to the undersides of said bottom chocks and extending therebetween, a top spacer bar attached to the upper faces of said top chocks and extending therebetween, and uprights on said bottom chocks on which said top chocks rest, said bottom and top chocks having grooves receiving said rails. 